Master Kenneth Wheatley VIII Dan

I started my Taekwon-Do training in September of 1979 in a small function room in the town of Greystones located approximately six miles from my home town. As over forty people attended to try out this new martial art we were split into two groups and took turns on the floor. It was obvious many people wanted to experience Taekwon-Do as it had not been seen in our area before.

I had no previous knowledge of Taekwon-Do, or indeed any other martial art and was very curious as to what it would be like, I did try one Karate class several months earlier but found it was not to my liking. Indeed this was my first time to stand close to someone who wore a black belt around their waist and the occasion was made even more intriguing when I recognised one of the Instructors as my cousin, Robert Wheatley.

The Greystones School of Taekwon-Do was soon established and regular training began at the St. Kilian hall. We attended class diligently and prepared for our first Kup testing with Master Ki Ha Rhee as Examiner, thirty nine students from the Greystones School undertook their test and all were successful.

The next time I was tested by Master Ki Ha Rhee was in 1983 at the Taekwon-Do centre in Dublin. I was, along with several others from our school, testing for my first degree black belt. Thankfully Master Rhee was satisfied by our performance and we were promoted to the rank of black belts.

During the following years Mr Wheatley travelled to America several times, eventual he decided to emigrate to America and our school was left in the charge of one his associates and fellow Instructor. Several months later the instructor informed us that he could no longer teach at our school and suggested four of the school’s black belts, including myself, took charge of the school and continued with our training.

During the years which followed there was transition within Taekwon-Do in Ireland, additional associations were formed and the AITA, All Ireland Taekwon-Do Association began. Our school was, by default, a member of the AITA. I continued with my training and after several years I became the principle instructor at our Taekwon-Do school, the other black belts took different paths in their lives and I was fortunate that my path allowed my continued involvement with Taekwon-Do.

I attended an IIC, International Instructors Course, during 1992 in Dublin; it was a five day course and was led by our founder, General Choi Hong Hi. It was here I first met General Choi and was inspired by his passion and knowledge. I could hardly believe I was being taught by the founder of Taekwon-Do, some among us have trained for years and had never even seen General Choi, and it was, at that time, the highlight of my Taekwon-Do involvement. Over the next seven years it was my good fortune to be in attendance at several other IICs which were led by General Choi and also to play host as association President, to General Choi, Master Choi Jung Hwa and Master Mc Callum in 1999 when our association hosted an IIC in Dublin.

Following the great loss of General Choi in 2002 there was much turmoil in our Taekwon-Do world, even in Ireland. Many people among us sought to move their allegiance from our ITF to elsewhere. There were outside influences trying to persuade and lead us to other so called ITF groups. However, I as President of our group urged a time of calm and held fast to the allegiance to our ITF. My patience and non-volatile actions were rewarded a hundred times over when in March of 2003 I travelled to Scotland to attend an IIC which was being led by the Technical Committee of the ITF and Master Trân Triêu Quân VIII degree President of the ITF. I had travelled from Ireland with an anxious heart as this was my first time to experience the leadership and knowledge of the ITF Technical Committee. However, my apprehensions were very quickly dispersed when Master Hector Marano VIII degree, Master Pablo Trajtenberg VIII degree and Master Wim Bos VIII degree displayed infallible technique and knowledge of all aspects of our beloved Taekwon-Do. This was also my first time to meet Master Trân Triêu Quân our President and the new leader of our ITF. I was inspired as I listened to his teaching on the Do of Taekwon-Do, before this time I had no real understanding of the moral culture in our Taekwon-Do and having listened to Master Trân I felt that a whole new aspect to Taekwon-Do now lay before me to be learned and understood.

It was at the IIC in Scotland that I tested for VI degree black belt and was fortunate that the Examiners found my performance to be acceptable and promoted me accordingly. However, it was not my promotion which brought such overwhelming joy on my return to Ireland. I had experienced the new technical leadership of the ITF and listened to our new President and was very happy that I had made the correct decisions as to which ITF we should have loyalty with, both for myself and the association which I led.

I continue to train in my Taekwon-Do and always try to learn, I believe there is so much more for me to learn both technically and philosophically. When attending the Leadership Camp and International Workshop on teaching of the Do, in Spain during 2006, I realised the ITF has a good plan in place to promote the philosophical aspects of Taekwon-Do and I look forward to understanding and teaching it.

1998: Completed the International Taekwon-Do Federation’s 146th International Instructor’s Course with General Choi Hong Hi, President and founding father of Taekwon-Do (Certificate Number : 146-5).

1999: Hosted and completed, in conjunction with the Executive of the AITA, International Instructor Course at Trinity College Dublin, with General Choi Hong Hi, President and founding father of Taekwon-Do, Master Choi Jung Hwa VIII degree black belt and Master Tom Mc Callum VIII degree black belt & Secretary General to ITF.

2005: Completed Level Three Coaching Course in Martial Arts as part of the National Coaching Development Programme hosted by the Irish Martial Arts Commission. (Motivation in sport psychology, Nutrition, Long term athlete development, Youth protection in sport)